I had just brought my daughter to college and went through all the emotions of leaving my best friend and soulmate off for her new life, when I received a text from her that she’d be coming home.

Hurricane Irene was coming up the coast and threatening to slam into the coastal towns in Ct. The college was closed. I had mixed emotions about having her back and starting the whole difficult process over for both of us, but I knew 3 days of having her home was a gift.

So I am not bragging, but who wouldn’t want to see what this blossoming artist comes up with in a day in the studio.

First she asked me for some old magazines and an hour later had created these beautiful bowls to put her jewelry in at school.

Them empty tin cans were turned into small treasure to hold pens and pencils.

Scraps of cardboard were decoupaged and turned into storage boxes.

“Ya got any yarn, mom?”

This container was literally made out of yarn, cut up tin cans and fabric. My first thought was that it would make an awsome lampshade! As I struggled to get my one assignment complete, she continued to wow me with her imaginative creations.

Next came hand made frames and cards from watercolors, acrylics and anything found on the table. I secretly hoped to receive one sent from her while at school.

After 2 days, creative overload hit and she took off to visit her brother in Boston. Before she left she made sure to remind me to save the messy craft paper she had used as a palette on the table. I don’t need to ask why. I am sure it will become someone’s birthday card….or maybe a letter to her at school.

Don’t throw away your old buttons, especially those shiny and translucent ones. Although this finish is not quick or inexpensive, it is DROP DEAD GORGEOUS for a small backsplash or panel area. Start by creating a dragged texture on the surface using plaster and dragging it both horizontally and vertically with a wallpaper brush. Once dry, trowel plaster through Wallovers Ethnic Grid stencil. While the plaster is still wet adhere small shells to create the pattern. Shells can be ordered from US Shell Company on line.

Once the shells are thoroughly dried into the plaster, adhere flat, antique, mother of pearl buttons using a craft adhesive. Alternate the pearl color with the silver inside open areas. You can purchase just about any antique embellishments from Sandy Schor bead company.

Continue to fill in the empty spaces or use just one color leaving the plaster background as a contrast. Here I am filling in all the space.

Once the buttons are fully applied and dry, use a tile grout to fill in the gaps.

Grout the entire surface, let set and then wipe away the excess to reveal the sheen of the buttons.

I am definitely getting ready to do a bathroom backsplash in this one!!!!!!!! But remember when applying those buttons and shells……..Patience is a virtue!

Ok all you Faux Fans. I am about to show you a new Wallovers design that isn’t even part of our line yet. But put it on your “Wish List” because this one is gorgeous! Yes, I know it one of those, ugh, double layer stencils. But how else can you get the beauty of a hand painted, theorem look on entire wall without two overlays.

I started by creating texture with tissue paper. I am not showing that layer here because it is not necessary with the foil we will be using but if you want that added texture, apply creased tissue paper to the wall with a mixture of 50/50% Elmers glue/water before base coating. Here I am base coating with Ben Moore HC-37. My all time favorite gold, with a green hue.

For you experts who can see the crocodile print in the bottom left corner, you caught me. I am rolling over something else I started but that will disappear ( if you like the croc print, you can get that too), at Wallovers.com It’s called Wild Thing and was a huge hit recently at the Quilt show in Houston, Texas.

Then released some Gold Crackle foil using a strong bristle brush. I wasn’t concerned with full coverage but the little bit of shimmer really added to the elegance!

Now comes the fun part. STENCILING. Layer one….

PLus Layer two…..

Equals this…….

The pom elements create the perfect opportunity to bring in additional color. Love this one. If you do too, you can preorder with us and get 20% off. This design won’t be available for a few weeks but email us and get on the list. It’s called Pom Pom. Happy Thanksgiving!

Everyone from the mailman to the high school kids have said “I love your house”, So I thought I would start a small series on home decorating. Starting in the kitchen, I will share some of the cool tricks that have made this room unique. Not only are these design elements different, but usually they can be picked up from a tag sale for under $25, painted and introduced as something new. You just have to be willing to eyeball every junk pile at the side of the road and stop into every tag sale and estate sale you can.

So here goes…..Old Gate handles used for Refrigerator door handles. $25 for the pair.

Old baby grand piano legs were made longer by a woodworker then painted with an antique copper finish. each leg at tag sale $25.

And an architectural rosette from a tag sale is added onto the hood for ornamentation. $5

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My personal favorite for decorating is antique area rugs. They are like artwork on the floor.

Here’s a big tip though….

Don’t ever buy 2 of the same rug in different sizes just because you love the rug. This just screams “This rug is machine made”!

If you love a machine made rug, buy it… but only once.

This rug happens to be special because I chose it on a trip to Morocco and shipped it home. Decorative items with meaning and beauty are the best kind! Ok…. the rug was incredibly inexpensive for hand made- wool at $250 but I did have to fly to Marrakesh to get it! It was worth it!

Here are some photos of the finished room.

I am a lover of pattern and texture so you will never find space in the house that doesn’t have one of the two.

Wall surfaces tend to be the last thing people care about after counters, appliances and floors but they make the biggest statement of all. They are usually the largest surface area in the room. A Tavern look is created here with textured red venetian plaster and tones of copper and Gold with an embossed stencil design to frame the french doors.